The Rise Of Skywalker – Blu-ray 4K Review
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The Rise Of Skywalker – 2019
Disney/Buena Vista 2019
PG13 | 2hrs 21 min | Sci-Fi | Fantasy | Action | Adventure
HD | 1080P | DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Native 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Aspect Ratio 2.39:1
Staring: Mark Hamill | Daisy Ridley | John Bodega | Adam Driver | Oscar Isaac | Keri Russell
Directed by: J. J. Abrams
Ratings & Reviews
Please see here for my comments on reviewing movies.
My ratings are simple being marked out of a maximum of 5+. My reviews are biased towards the technical production aspects of the film with brief comments about the story line. Extras, sorry, that’s just not my ‘bag’.
Not having immersive audio, what did the 7.1 soundtrack sound like? Excellent in most respects, and the 4K HDR10 video? Also excellent.
Entertainment: 5
Video: 5-
Audio: 5-
Technical Review – 4K UHD HDR10
The Rise of Skywalker was shot mostly on 35 mm photochemical film using Arriflex 435 ES and Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2 cameras with Panavision anamorphic lenses. It was finished as a native 4K Digital Intermediate at the 2.39:1 aspect ratio and graded for high dynamic range for this Ultra HD release in HDR10.
This native 4K release looks very good, provides reference quality video and is an excellent UHD offering by Disney. With the volume wound well up it was a delight to hear the familiar Williams’ refrain fill the front speakers as the opening titles provided the familiar bright, well saturated scrolling yellow text against an inky black star-field. The picture is generally sharp and well defined and shows no obvious source noise or any compression artifacts. Film grain is clearly observable in virtually all scenes but is not objectionable. Close-ups provide exceptional detail, clarity and definition with stellar skin tones. From costumes to pores, eyelashes and skin, sweat, tattoos, and scars, all show excellent clarity and detail, as do the more mundane, like general wear and tear on the many aging ships both active and destroyed, like the crashed cavernous ruins of the Death Star. Despite this excellent resolution it never interferes with the interface between real and digital. Colors are well saturated with the greens of trees and vegetation looking very natural and explosions providing bright orange, red and yellow flashes. Lightsabers, hyperspace entrances and various lightening effects dazzle, while 3PO’s body gold positively gleams. Blacks are deep and noise free supported by good low level detail, while peak whites provided clean high level detail with no clipping, providing a solid dynamic range.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
The Rise of Skywalker yet again includes level-challenged Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD soundtracks. My system defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 and the moment the movie kicks off the level is clearly far too low and required a +6dB increase in level above my calibrated reference level in order to achieve sonic excellence. Without this boost in level the sound track is restricted and lacks body and depth. Once there, the soundtrack is excellent, achieving some significant levels of sonic satisfaction. Remember to turn the volume up before the movies opening titles so that you get the full impact of the Williams familiar opening refrain.
With its tremendous sound stage and excellent and detailed surround effects, the 7.1 mix abounds with atmosphere even during the quite moments, but really heating up during some of the more climatic moments. Action sequences are intense and effects placement are accurate and natural, with movement in both the rear and side surrounds consistently pulling you into the various locals and environments. Like the wind, water and rattling metal in the cavernous ruins of the Death Star to the swirling lightsaber dual on its ruins between Rey and Kylo as the ginormous waves crash onto and sweep over its remains. Action is easy to trace as ships and objects maneouvre throughout the listening environment from the zipping of the TIE fighters, the zooming of the Millennium Falcon to the final frenzied fight between the First Order and Resistance ships. Even the final battle with Palpatine provides some very impactful sound as the Force lightning strikes hard, providing a palpable physical impact. Good sub action certainly makes itself known during the many action sequences, explosions and firefights, with a loud, thunderous and extended bottom end having plenty of punch and muscle where required, including the Emperors opening Fleet movement, Star destroyer actions, canon and laser blasts and numerous crashes and explosions.
The musical score by John Willams’, provides excellent support throughout the entire movie, and is a sonic delight that fills out both the quiet and high action moments equally well. Dialogue was always clear and detailed with solid front-center imaging and prioritization, even during the many intense sequences. Just make sure that you turn the volume up or you will be disappointed.
There is little to criticize regarding this soundtrack, providing as it does, an excellent mix.
Story Overview
………..The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga.
As Rey (Daisy Ridley) completes her Jedi training under the guidance of her new master, General Leia (Carrie Fisher); Poe(Oscar Issac), Finn (John Bodega) and Chewie (Joonas Suatamo) receive intelligence information from a First Order mole. The mole confirms that there is to be a galaxy-wide invasion by a huge Final Order Fleet that is to be commanded by the return of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has spent years desperately searching for the planet Exogol on which this Fleet and its planet destroying weapons are being assembled, so that it can be located and destroyed, but with no luck. So now Rey and her companions must follow the clues and ancient Jedi texts to find Exogol and destroy the fleet before it can be launched.
So begins the battle between the Supreme leader Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Rey and Palpatine to see who will turn to the dark side and rule the Sith and Galaxy.
My 2 cents
After waiting for 42 years, yes the original movie came out in May 1977, I and my entire family of die hard Star Wars fans loved every minute of this concluding movie. Unfortunately I still cannot get over Disney’s inability to set the correct audio reference levels. However, moving past this annoyance the 4K video and soundtrack come together to produce a reference level offering and is a fitting production to end the Original Star Wars series. Just enjoy the movie for what it is, a Sci-Fi adventure, and don’t get wrapped up in the minutia.
